The American Heart Association has expanded its education portfolio to help clinicians translate the first-ever cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome guideline into patient care. The new resources, ranging from 15-minute micro-learnings to in-depth courses and practical tools, aim to bridge the gap between scientific recommendations and real-world practice. This matters because cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic conditions—such as Type 2 diabetes and obesity—often overlap, making coordinated care increasingly important. By equipping healthcare professionals with accessible, evidence-based education, the Association seeks to improve diagnosis, management, and ultimately patient outcomes for these interconnected conditions.
Since 2023, the American Heart Association has been a leader in advancing CKM health by convening experts across science, clinical care, and industry. The Association’s CKM education can be found on the CKM Health for Professionals site, designed for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other members of the healthcare team. The offerings are structured to accommodate different learning styles and busy schedules, ensuring that clinicians can easily stay current with the latest evidence.
One key component is Micro-Learnings (15 minutes or less), which are short videos and activities that allow healthcare professionals to build actionable CKM knowledge quickly. Clinicians can refresh their knowledge on measuring waist circumference or hear highlights from the 2026 Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome Guideline. Other topics include the PREVENT equations, a framework for weight management conversations, and bridging gaps in CKM care. These brief, focused modules are particularly valuable for busy practitioners who need to integrate new guidelines without extensive time commitments.
For deeper dives, the Association offers podcasts and on-demand videos. A half-hour podcast episode provides continuing education credit on therapeutic applications for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which is increasing alongside rising metabolic risk factors. Additional offerings explore the connection between chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease and interdisciplinary approaches to cardiometabolic and liver health. On-demand education includes recorded versions of live events, such as the CKM Syndrome Guideline Unpacked: A Unified Approach for Interdisciplinary Prevention & Care, a virtual summit featuring insights from the guideline writing committee.
Practical tools are also central to the initiative. Apps and implementation tools support CKM care at the point of practice, including a QuickStart guide for the American Heart Association Predicting Risk of cardiovascular disease EVENTsTM (PREVENT) Online Calculator, which estimates 10- and 30-year cardiovascular disease risk by integrating cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic health measures. Additionally, the Guidelines-on-the-Go app puts the latest science and clinical recommendations at your fingertips, and infographics break down evidence-based care with bold visuals. The CKM Care Clinical QuickStart Guide is a concise, step-by-step resource covering screening, risk stratification, staging, and management.
Several of these educational experiences are offered by the American Heart Association’s Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health Initiative™, supported by founding sponsors Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim, supporting sponsors Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Bayer, and champion sponsor DaVita. The initiative is a specific effort to raise awareness of the connections between CKM syndrome conditions, improve diagnosis rates, and help clinicians and patients better manage their risk for cardiovascular disease. As CKM syndrome becomes a recognized clinical entity, the Association’s expanded education portfolio represents a critical step in ensuring that the latest science is rapidly and effectively integrated into patient care. For more information, visit heart.org or stroke.org.
